April 22, 2015-The Emporia State baseball team began their final regular season home stand and finished the non-conference portion of their schedule undefeated with a 10-5 win over Newman on Wednesday at the Trusler Sports Complex.
The Hornets got on the board in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs with two outs to take a lead they would not give up. Dean Long started things as he reached base safely for the 34th straight game as he was hit by a pitch with two outs. Evan Koehler and Dalton Wheat followed with walks to load the bases. Jonny Hodges singled in the first run and Daniel Lorenzen, making just his second start of the season, followed with a two RBI single through the right side.
The Jets answered with a run in the top of the top of the second before Jonny Hodges got another RBI single that plated Wheat in the bottom of the third. Newman scored two runs in the top of the fifth and had two runners on with no outs but starter Jake Eikleberry was able to retire the side with no further damage. The Hornets came back with a run in the bottom of the fifth when Wheat's ground out scored Cody Bobbitt to give Emporia State a 5-3 lead.
Garrett Brummett made his first appearance out of the bullpen to start the sixth in relief of Eikleberry. He gave up a lead off single but came back with two strike outs before Long made a sensational diving stop and throw to get the final out. With one out in the bottom of the inning Jordan Hodges singled and went to third on a double by Levi Parker. Justin Harris then extended his hitting streak to 27 games with a two RBI single through the right side for a 7-3 lead.Â
Grant Bachura faced the minimum in the seventh, getting a double play to erase a lead off hit batter and then having Harris run down a long fly ball to left center for the final out. Long manufactured a run on his own in the bottom of the seventh when he reached on a fielding error at third, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher and then scored on a ground out for an 8-3 lead.
Shane Davies came on in the top of the eighth and let the first three batters reach on a pair of singles and a hit by pitch. He got a strike out before giving up a pinch hit RBI single to Croix Sedillo and then the Hornet defense turned their second double play in as many innings to get out the inning with no further damage. Price Jacobs led off the bottom of the eighth with a pinch hit single and went to third on Jordan Hodges single to left center. Hodges stole second and later moved to third as Jacobs scored on a wild pitch. Harris had an RBI ground out to finish the scoring for Emporia State.
Tyler Bugner led off the ninth for Newman with a double off Teven Renken and after a ground out scored on a double by Andrew Standish. Renken got a strikeout for the second out of the inning before giving up a walk to put runners on first and second. He then got a force out at second to end the game.
Jonny Hodges was two for four with two RBI while Jordan Hodges went two for four with two runs scored for the Hornets. Eikleberry got the win, going 5.0 innings and surrendering three runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
The Hornets will play their final regular season MIAA series this weekend against Pittsburg State at the Trusler Sports Complex. First pitch of game one is set for 6:00 p.m. on Friday night from Glennen Field.
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